Animated display or sign apparatus



Sept. 17, 1935. J MULLEN 2,4)14,66

' ANIMATED DI SPLAY-ORSIGN APPARATUS I Filed Feb. 11 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 17, .1935. J. T. MULLEN I ANIMATED DISPLAY OR SIGN APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A IR Sept. 17, 1935. J T MULLEN 2,014,669

ANIMATED DISPLAY OR SIGN APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Us. 7 g

7 191155 7. Mulls/y- Patented Sept. 17, 1935 ATENT OFFICE ANIMATED DISPLAY OR SIGN APPARATUS James T. Mullen, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Dyment Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation Application February 13, 1934, Serial No. 711,054

18 vClaims.

The present invention has ,to do primarily with advertising displays or signs and involves the employment of sign or display features in which light rays are caused to produce moving light effects upon a main display member forming a part of the apparatus.

An especial object of this invention is to avail of reflected light from a source of light to throw reflected images upon themain sign or display membensaid images to be transmitted consecutively to the ,main signmember, in a simple form of the invention, in a continuous moving manner, so to speak. In another embodiment of the invention, carrying .out the general principle of utilizing the projection of reflected images to the main sign member, a multiplicity of such refleet-ed images maybe produced by the employmentpf one-or more supplemental reflectors for transmitting reflected light raysfrom the source of li h a ohelma n n mb In all forms of my apparatus there are emv ployedat least three principal parts, namely, a source Tof light, a main sign member to which the rays of light-may bepassed andconstituting a reflection receiving member in the practical operation of the invention, and thirdly, a re- ;flecting sigfn memberpositioned properly in relation to the reflectionreceiving member so that the-rays of light transmitted to the reflecting .signinembenmay be caused to produce the image v-,ofi the reflecting sign member upon the main reflection receiving member. When multiple reflections are to beresorted to there will-be added ,thesupplemental reflectors which are preferably :arranged, on theside of the 3 reflection receiving .zrmemberj opposite that at which the'reflectingsign pmemberis disposed,,and-by the peculiar arrangementof the supplemental reflectors, variations in gthe-kind. and shape and size of the reflections caused to be produced upon the reflection receiving member are obtainable.

.JIn .,addi tion-to its function as alreflecting means; the reflecting sign member employed con- .stitutes a curtainmember, so tovspeak, for hiding :the sourceof light availed of thus preventing rthe-direct rays from the, source of light from -reaching theleyes of the person .or persons who view the display apparatus iniactual use.

A full comprehension of the construction of "Figure 1. .isa frontelevation of a simple form oof t the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the construction of Figure 1.

'Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View through the apparatus shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 illustrates a detail involving the flap or shelf member which projects from and may or may not be formed with the reflection receive ing member for facilitating the proper positioning of the reflecting sign member in relation to the reflectionreceiving member.

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary perspective showing more fully the parts of Figure 4 after they have been folded and placed in operative position ready to receive the vertically disposed reflecting sign or display member.

Figure 6 is a top plan view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating a modified embodiment of -the invention availing of'supplemen'tal vertical and horizontal reflectors,the vertical reflector in rear i the light source and the horizontal reflector beneath the lightjso'urce.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 3 butillustrating the modiflcationlof Fig.- ure 6. A i Figure 8 is a detail View in elevation of the light source and novingscreen apparatus carried thereby.

Figure 9 is atop plan view of the screen frame as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail fragmentary view of the lower end portion of the reflecting sign member i showing the notches that are adapted to interlock with the notches on the oifstanding flap or shelf member seen best in Figures 4 and 5.

The display of this invention is of relatively simple construction, including the reflection receiving sign or member 5 preferably, though not necessarily, formed with the wings 2 facilitating the setting up of the member l in a standingposition as shown. The member I .is preferably formedwvith an opening 3 and in rear of this opening is positioned the light source consisting of an incandescent lamp shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 and designated 5. Upon this lamp or light 5 is mounted a screen frame 6 carryinga series of differently colored screens 7 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. The screen frame (5 and screens 7 are capable of rotation upon a vertical axis supported by the light or lamp5 and the rising gases from the heat of the light source 5 coacting with the vanes on the top of the screen frame ii cause the continuous rotation of the screens '5 in a manner well known tothose versed inthis art.

Preferably, thoughnot necessarily, formed as a part of the lower portion of the member I, is a flap or extension 9 scored so that it may be folded to a position at right angles to the member I as shown in Figure 5 and equipped at its edges with the upwardly folded flanges I formed with one or more notches II, these notches facilitating the positioning in spaced relation to the member I of a reflecting sign member I2. The sign'member I2 designed to be of any suitable outline, having in view purposes of advertising a particular subject. The sign member I2 illustrated in the drawings, especially Figure 1, is representative of the earth or globe illustrative of the world, and at the top of this sign member is a cut-out extension illustrative of a can or bucket I2a, the contents of which are seemingly being poured upon the depicited globe. The inner or rear face of the reflected sign member I2 designated I2b bears a reflecting surface. At its lower edge portion the sign member I2 is formed with notches I20 to engage in opposite notched portions II on the shelf-like member 9, the cooperation being such that the part I2 may be adjustably positioned in relation to the part I in a self-evident manner.

Describing the animated action of the sign apparatus thus far set forth in conjunction with Figures 1 and 3 particularly, it is notable that the colored screens '1 in their movement are in- 30" terposed between the source of light and the reflected sign member I2. Light rays are projected therefore directly from the light source through the screen members I upon the reflecting surface I2b, and this produces upon the front of the reflection receiving member 3 the reflected image or outline of the reflected sign member I2. The size of the image produced depends upon the distance apart of the two members I and I2. Since the screen members I are of different colors, during the rotation of the screen frame 6 the reflected image produced by the sign I2 upon the reflection receiving surface of the member I changes in color, as for instance from blue to green to yellow, to red, etc. as these particular colors of the screens 1 pass between the light source 5 and the reflecting sign member I2, and the colored rays are projected to the refleeting surface I21) on the reflecting back and therefrom to the front reflection receiving surface of the member I.

As intimated above, the reflected images produced upon the reflection receiving member 'I in the above manner are received consecutively, and because of the changing colors, animation is imparted to the sign appartus in an obvious way, and the colored effects of the reflection produced upon the member I afford interesting and attractive changes. During the production of the reflected images upon the member I, the member I2, as previously suggested herein, constitutes a curtain or cut-off preventing the direct rays of light from passing from the light source to the observer or looker-on.

Referring now to Figures 6 and '7, an extension of the principles of the invention is carried out by utilizing reflectors supplemental to the reflecting surface I22) previously referred to. In this particular construction there is availed of a base or horizontal reflector I3, the topsurface of which is of a reflecting nature, and additionally may be provided the supplemental reflector I4 having the reflector wings I5 and I6, said reflectors I4, I5, and I6 having the reflecting surfaces I4a, I5a, and I6a respectively. Now it will be evident from the illustrations of Figure 6 aoi geeo that by the employment of the supplemental reflector I3 light rays will be directly projected to the base reflector I3 and from said reflector to the vertical reflecting surface of the reflecting sign member I2. The reflections produced from the base member I3 in this manner may be multi-colored because colors of different screens 1 may be projected at the same time to and from the upper reflecting surface of the reflector I3. In like manner it is notable that if one or more 'of the reflectors I4, I5, or I6 are used, the light rays from the source of light 5, rearwardly through the screens I, will be received upon the reflecting surfaces of the last mentioned reflectors and then projected from said surfaces to the reflector surface I21) and back upon the reflection receiving member I. The base reflector I3 may be used without the reflectors I4, I5, and I6, or the reflectors I4, I5, and It may be used without the reflector I3, or only one of the reflectors I4, I5, and I6 used with or without the reflector I3, dependent upon the particular effects to be secured, preferably in the display apparatus, and dependent upon the nature of the advertising or display to be produced. It is evident that multi-colored reflected images may be readily projected upon the reflection receiving member I by the use of the multi-reflector arrangements above described, and in the use of apparatus of Figures 6 and 7, the colored effects and the animation effects obtained will be multiplied materially as respects the simple form of my invention of the constructions of Figures 1, 2 and 3. Many different animated effects may thus be produced in the multi-reflector type of construction that cannot be obtained in the simple construction of Figures 1 to 3 and among these multi-reflection effects are involved effects of animation produced by reflected images produced on the reflection receiving member I, which images merge one into the other after a manner, or are seemingly superposed one upon the other after a manner when viewed in the practical operation of the invention.

In Figure 1 there is depicted the effect of the reflected image designated A and A of the reflection produced by the sign member I2 upon the member I. This reflected image is in color because of the use of colored screen means interposed between the source of light and the reflecting surface I2b. Because of the movement of the screens, the reflected images A and A have the effect of animation, for obvious reasons. In like manner, though not illustrated, while as to the construction of Figures 1 and 3 apparatus, the reflected images A and A are produced in a continuous and consecutive order, when the apparatus of Figures 6 and 7 is employed, the effect of the movement of the screens and various reflected and direct light rays passing to the reflector surface I2b is to cause merging of different colored reflected images projected upon the receiving member I, and to some extent these images superpose upon one another with life-like movement effects. Those parts in Figures 6 and '7 which are like the corresponding parts of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 3 are similarly designated.

It is to be understood that Within the purview of my invention I do not wish to be limited to any particular construction of mounting means for the screen i because these screens could be caused to be moved by any suitable kind of motor, employed in any suitable number, carried by an endless belt or like carrier and disposed in various relative positions as respects the several reflectors described. The angularity of the disposition of the reflectors and It may be varied in relation to the lightsource and in relation to the reflector l las well as the base reflector l3 if the latter be used. Likewise, the size of the image produced may be changed by'adjustment of the reflected sign member l 2 relatively to the reflection receiving member I as set forth.

This invention contemplates also a method of producing animated effects in display apparatus involving the peculiar projecting of light rays from aflight source to a reflecting surface and from thence to 'a reflectionreceiving surface combined with other light rays projected from'the light source to areflector from which they are transmitted to the reflecting member to pass to the reflection receiving member, and coloring said light rays as they pass from the li ght source to the various reflecting parts so that the colored effects are ultimately transmitted to the reflection receiving member.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an animated display of the class described, in combination, a reflection receiving member having an opening therethrough, a reflecting sign member spaced therefrom and provided with a reflecting surface facing the reflection receiving member, and a light source disposed on the side of the reflection receiving member opposite that at which the reflecting sign member is disposed so that the rays of light from the light source may be projected to the. reflecting surface of said sign member thrcughfthe reflection receiving member opening and projected from such surface upon the adjacent face of the reflection receiving member.

' 2. In an'animated display of the class described, in combination, a reflection receiving member, a reflecting sign member for producing a reflection upon the receiving member aforesaid and'spaced therefrom, and a light source arranged so that 'rays' may be projected therefrom to a reflecting surfaceof the reflecting sign member, said rays to be thereby projected upon the reflection receiving member, the reflection receiving member being provided with an opening through which the rays of the light source may pass to the reflecting surface of'the reflecting sign member.

3. .In an animated display of the class described, in combination, a reflection receiving member, a reflecting sign member for producing a reflection upon thereceiving member aforesaid and spaced therefrom, and a light source arranged sothat rays may be projected therefrom to a reflecting surface of the reflecting sign member, said rays tobe thereby projected upon the reflection receiving member, the reflection receiving member being provided with an opening through which the rays of the light source may pass to, the reflecting surface of the reflecting sign niemb'er, and a colored screen interposed between site that at which the reflecting sign member is disposed, said reflection receivingmem'ber having meansfor permitting the rays'of light from the light source to be projected to the reflecting surface of said sign member and projected from such surface upon the adjacent face of the reflection receiving member, and moving differently colored screens interposed between the light source and ]tune reflecting surface of the reflecting sign mem- 5. In an animated display of the class described, in combination, a reflection receiving member, a reflecting sign member spaced therefrom and provided with a reflecting surface facing the reflection receiving member, a light source disposed on the side of the reflection receiving member opposite that at which the reflecting sign member is disposed so that the rays of light from the light source may be projected to the reflecting surface of said sign member and projected from such surface upon the adjacent face of the reflection receiving member, and moving differently colored screens interposed between the light source and the reflecting surface of the reflecting sign member, the reflection receiving member being formed with an'opening through which the light rays pass from the light source through the said receiving member to the said reflecting surface of the sign member.

6. In an animated display of the class described, in combination, a reflection receiving member, a reflecting sign member spaced therefrom and provided with a reflecting surface facing the reflection receiving member, a light source disposed 'on'the side of the reflection receiving member opposite that at which the reflecting sign member-is disposed so that the rays of light from the light source may be projected to the reflecting surface of the sign member and projected from such' surface upon the adjacent face of the reflection receiving member, and moving differently colored screens interposed between the light source and the reflecting surface of the reflecting sign member, the reflection receiving member of a size to form a curtain cutting the direct light rays projected from the light source through said opening, and the reflection receiving member being formed with 'a shelf-like support having interlocking connectionwith the sign member.

'7. In an animated display of the class described, in combination, a reflection receiving member having an opening, a reflecting sign member disposed at one side of said receiving member for producing a reflection upon the receiving member aforesaid and spaced therefrom, a light source disposed on the opposite side of said receiving member arranged so that rays may be projected therefrom passing through the opening to a refleeting surface of the reflecting sign member, said rays to be thereby projected upon the reflection receiving member, supplemental reflector means cooperating with the light source to receive light rays therefrom and reflect such rays to the reflecting surface of the reflecting sign member, and a moving colored screen interposed 65 between the light source and the reflecting sign member and between said light source and said supplemental reflector.

8. In an animated display of the class described, incombination, a reflection receiving member having means for permitting light rays to pass therethrough, a reflecting sign member disposed in spaced relation at one side of said receiving member for producing a reflection upon the receiving member aforesaid, a light source arranged at the opposite side of said receiving member so that rays may be projected therefrom through the receiving member to a reflecting surface of the reflecting sign member, said rays to be thereby projected upon the reflection receiving member, supplemental reflector means cooperating with the light source to receive light rays therefrom and reflect such rays to the reflecting surface of the reflecting sign member, and a series of differently colored moving screens arranged to move between the light source and the reflecting surface of the sign member and between the light source and the reflecting surface of the supplemental reflector means.

9. In an animated display of the class described, in combination, a reflection receiving member having an opening for passing light rays, a reflecting sign member disposed at one side thereof in spaced relation to said receiving member for producing a reflection upon the receiving member aforesaid, a light source arranged at the opposite side of said receiving member so that rays may be projected therefrom through said opening to a reflecting surface of the reflecting sign member, said rays to be thereby projected upon the reflection receiving member, and supplemental reflector means cooperating with the light source to receive light rays therefrom and reflect such rays to the reflecting surface of the reflecting sign member, said supplemental reflector means comprising a series of reflectors parallel with the sign member in one plane and disposed at angles in rela tion to each other.

10. In an animated display of the class described, in combination, a reflection receiving member, a reflecting sign member for producing a reflection upon the receiving member aforesaid and spaced therefrom, a light source arranged so that rays may be projected therefrom to a reflecting surface of the reflecting sign -member, said rays to be thereby projected upon the reflection receiving member, supplemental reflector means cooperating with the light source to receive light rays therefrom and reflect such rays to the reflecting surface of the reflecting sign member, said supplemental reflector means comprising a series of reflectors parallel with the sign member in one plane and disposed .at angles in relation to each other, and a reflector disposed rectilineally in relation to the sign member and adapted to receive light rays projected thereto from the light source and transmit such rays to the reflecting surface of the sign member.

11. In an animated display of the class described, in combination, a reflection receiving member having an opening for passing light rays, a reflecting sign member for producing a reflection upon the receiving member aforesaid and spaced at one side thereof, a light source arranged at the opposite side of said receiving member so that rays may be projected therefrom through said opening to a reflecting surface of the reflecting sign member, said rays to be thereby projected upon the reflection receiving member, and a supplemental reflector cooperating with the light source to transmit reflected rays therefrom to the reflecting surface of the sign member and be reflected therefrom to said receiving member, said supplemental reflector being disposed at a right angle to the sign member.

12. In an animated display of the class described, in combination, a reflection receiving member having an opening for passing lightrays,

a reflecting sign member for producing a reflection upon the receiving member aforesaid and spaced at one side thereof, a light source disposed at the opposite side of said receiving member and arranged so that rays may be projected therefrom through said opening to a reflecting surface of the reflecting sign member, said rays to be thereby projected upon the reflection receiving member, a supplemental reflector disposed on the same side of the receiving member as the light source cooperating with said light source to transmit reflected rays therefrom to the reflecting surface of the sign member and then be reflected onto said receiving member, said supplemental reflector being disposed at a right angle to the sign member, and differently colored screens through which light rays from the light source are projected upon the supplemental reflector.

13. In an animated display of the class described, in combination, a reflection receiving member, a reflecting sign member for producing a reflection upon the receiving member aforesaid and spaced therefrom, a light source arranged so that rays may be projected therefrom to a reflecting surface of the reflecting sign member, said rays to be thereby projected upon the reflection receiving member, supplemental reflector means cooperating with the light source to receive light rays therefrom and reflect such rays to the reflecting surface of the reflecting.

sign member, said supplemental reflector means comprising a series of reflectors parallel with the sign member in one plane and disposed at angles in relation to each other, and differently colored moving screens between the light source and said reflectors so that colored rays are reflected from the reflectors to the reflecting surface of the sign member and from such surface to the reflection receiving surface of the reflection receiving member.

14. In an animated display of the class described, in combination, a reflection receiving member, a reflecting member having a predetermined outline in representation of a physical subject for producing a reflection of similar configuration upon the receiving member aforesaid and spaced therefrom, and a light source arranged so that rays may be projected therefrom to a reflecting surface of the reflecting member, said rays to be thereby projected upon the reflection receiving member.

15. In an animated display of the class described, in combination, a reflection receiving memberhaving an opening therethrough, a reflecting member spaced therefrom and provided with a reflecting surface facing the reflection receiving member, and a light source disposed on the side of the reflection receiving member opposite that at which the reflecting member is disposed so that the rays of light from the light source may be projected to the reflecting surface of said reflecting member through the reflection receiving member opening and projected from such surface upon the adjacent face of the reflection receiving member.

16. The method of producing animated effects in sign display apparatus, which consists in projecting reflected light rays from a reflecting member having the form of a display image upon a reflection receiving member, and coloring such rays sequentially with colors of different color values as they are transmitted from the light source to the reflecting member so as to impart motion to the reflected images.

1'1. The method of producing animated effects in sign apparatus, which consists in projecting light rays from a light source onto an image producing a reflecting member, causing the rays from the reflecting member to be received upon a reflection receiving member, and supplementing the rays with light rays projected from the light source to a supplemental reflector and thence to the said reflecting member from whence they are projected to the reflection receiving member.

18. The method of producing animated effects in sign apparatus, comprising the following steps:causing light rays to be projected from a lightsourcedirectly onto an image producing reflecting member and thence causing said rays to be projected to a reflection receiving member, also causing light rays from the light source to be projected directly to a reflector supplementing the reflecting member above mentioned, and from said reflector to the reflecting member, and from thence to the reflection receiving member, and coloring said different reflected light rays as they pass to the reflecting member just mentioned so as to produce animated colored images.

JAMES T. MULLEN.

CERHFHQATE 0F GDRRECTION.

?atent No. 2,014,669. September 17, 1935.

JAMES T. MULLEN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring cerrectien as fellows: Page 5., first eelumn, fine 4, claim 17, strike eut the m'tieie "a"; and that the said Letters Patent sheuld be read with this eerreetien therein that the same may eenform to the record ef the ease in the Patent Git-ice.

Signed and sealed this 5th day at Nevember, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Cemmissiener of Patents. 

